So I tried to go through a day without feeling any inspiration from anywhere to do anything. Not only was it difficult to do, but I realized that life is flat without inspiration. It’s important to be receptive to avail what this world has to offer.

Often people wait around to feel inspired. That, I find, is a problem. Opening yourself up to feel inspired is an active task – not a passive one. In fact, this blog is based on the muse – to actively learn from stylish men & women.

Some days, I may find myself wanting to channel a sartorial era – other days, I’m inspired to sing, even if it’s just around the apartment or in the shower. The late Anna Piaggi and Lady Gaga are inspirations for people to express themselves freely. My mother’s paintings are each based in inspiration, as are most DIY projects.

Inspiration is a powerful motivator. Inspiration to create. Inspiration to dress a certain way. Inspiration to feel joy. Inspiration to shop. Inspiration to make a change. Inspiration to find purpose!

Meha Bhargava can find inspiration anywhere, and she shares with us some of her ways:

“People watching has always been my favorite thing to do. Other things that inspire me:

A healthy, intellectual conversation

The rain – my brain works rather smoothly then

Fashion magazines

Newspaper

A well lit room

Colors

Home/ Family

A happy vacation

There’s inspiration in the tiniest of things.”

On I For Inspiration: To be inspired is great. To Inspire is incredible.Meha Bhargava’s Style Inspiration

For sartorial-specific inspiration?

Watch a TV show like Gossip Girl, Glee, or Sex and the City. Mirror a look you like. No, I don’t mean you have to buy the same pieces the character is wearing. But look in your wardrobe – can you create a similar look? Recently, I found I’m often missing a leather jacket to create the looks I like. Finding the perfect leather jacket for the fall is a piece that could potentially pull many looks I like together – that’s inspiration I’m using to make a change in styling.

Watch a movie or (music) video with distinctive styling. Example – watch an Audrey Hepburn movie. Or, for example, watch something unique like Annie Hall. Pictures from Annie Hall or of Katharine Hepburn often inspire me to celebrate menswear-inspired-womenswear. For more on that, read “On Borrowing from the Boys, Guys, and Men“.

Celebrities! Whether they’ve styled themselves, or have stylists doing the work, celebrities often wear creative looks pulled together by several unique pieces. For example, Brad Goreski’s got Jessica Alba wearing color every day, everywhere. Meha often feels inspired by Nicole Kidman’s perfection and by the Duchess of Cambridge for her royal, clean, and chic style sense. And I think mostly everyone who loves fashion is inspired by Sarah Jessica Parker for her eccentric style.

Fashion shows and magazines. Create a scrap file of the looks you love. When you’re feeling uninspired, refer to your scrapbook for looks you’ve liked – this makes dressing creatively stress-free. Pinterest, and several other web services make this easy if you don’t like paper clutter or are trying to be green!

Be in awe of something – anything. It will inspire you to make a change.

What are some places you could look for inspiration?

Nature

Meditation

Web-surfing

People

Thinking about possibilities

Scrapbooks

Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter – basically any form of social media

Browse through an inspirational book

Attend a conference with people with similar goals

Watch videos of keynote speakers

To be inspired is great, and to inspire is incredible. Have you felt inspired today? Have you inspired anyone today? If not, take a moment now.

I’ve always loved color; I had nearly every paint color available in the art supply store in my paintbox at home during design school. I could spend hours trying to mix a particular shade for my artwork. This is a trait my muse Meha Bhargava made me aware of. Still, I used to shy away from wearing much color. A little over a year ago, I fit in perfectly in New York, where black is an official color.

Today, however, I can intuitively mix and match bright and neutral tones. My image consultant training has given me an appreciation for color, as well as the tools to wear colors correctly. I’m likelier to be seen wearing colored denim with colored blouses, or colorful dresses with colorful jackets (Deep, sincere love for Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, Nanette Lepore, Diane Von Furstenberg, and JCrew) than I am to be seen wearing neutrals such as black – which used to be my go-to year-round. Recently I’ve started to pick up bold, colorful neckpieces and accessories as well. My most recent favorite is this JCrew neckpiece in a bright orange color.

Colors bring an outfit to life, make you look beautiful (when chosen correctly), feel happy, and they make a statement – all at the same time. My muse, Meha’s always loved colors. I’ve always seen her putting together bold hues in her clothes, accessories, bags, and shoes.

“Colors are my best friend. Apart from Lime Greens and Hunter/Forest Greens I am good with everything on the wheel. Favorites being the Blues and Corals! Moving across the color wheel, making bold choices in term of analogous and split complementary is fun!”

~Meha Bhargava

On C for ColorMuse of the Month : Meha Bhargava

Meha believes she owes her love of colors to her mother:

“I was always a well matched child..with my dress matching my shoes and my accessories matching them all. I dont think I’ve ever had the moment when some one told me, “They Dont Match!””

She likes keeping a wardrobe neutral (simply a color that is a silent spectator) i.e. Beiges, Blacks Reds and the Indigos etc..and then playing with accent colors throughout the look. Meha enjoys seeing how color changes one’s attitude for the day, and how a certain color brightens up cheeks vs. how a certain color dulls the personality.

“Who would’ve thought I’d pick up a salmon colored top and pair it with a bright red skirt? Beautiful and over-the-top combinations excite me.” ~Meha Bhargava

You could forget everything else as long as you remember these few rules:

It’s important to CINCH and/or HIGHLIGHT the waist.

For pants, and skirts, and dress bottoms – remember the goal, after waist definition, is to LENGTHEN. Wear heels to lengthen, or wear washes, prints, or pinstripe pants to lengthen. There are numerous ways.

Streamline your silhouette, especially with fabric just flowing over to help the eye move up & down vertically.

BALANCE is key. Not only do you want to balance your top and bottom, you want to make sure your pants are neither baggy, nor “painted-on”. If you wear volume in one place, balance it off with a slimmer-fitting pieces.

Dark shades and washes will help you look leaner. They minimize the lower half. Avoid versions that are bleached on the thighs.

Pants/Jeans/Trousers Styling

I love bootcut pants – trousers and denim. Not only is this style universally flattering, it accentuates the skinniness of an hourglass waist while simultaneously balancing top volume with the subtle flair it creates around the feet. Pairing heeled pumps, or booties with it will take off a few more visual pounds.

Mid-rise jeans are very flattering, while high-cut vs. low-cut circle in and out through fashion. Low-rise jeans may make hips look wider/legs shorter – so style with caution there. Add an attractive belt, especially with high-waist trousers to draw attention to the waist. Make sure the waistline is fitted to avoid the gaping waist problem.

Tapered leg cut jeans are flattering when you want the eyes drawn to shapely hips, to accentuate curviness. They are also preferable for the petite hourglass, while the wide leg/flared (more than the bootcut) styles are better for taller hourglass figures.

Try skinny jeans tucked into knee-high boots (especially if the boots have heels) – your legs will look longer, and this will balance your hips.

DO NOT wear denim without stretch. Make sure you can sit, jump, stand, hop, walk, run in the jeans before you commit.

Fabric in thick wools or bulky denim can widen the hourglass frame. LIKE fabrics that are drape-y – they should glide down the widest part of our hips. Clingy, spandex-cotton blend fabrics can also help for extra fitting.

Bottoms for the petite & hourglass – take inspiration from what these petite and tall hourglass figures are wearing

Skirts/Dress Bottoms – use the rules above + these:

A line and pencil skirts are your best friends!! (See Scarlett Johansson)

Voluminous tulip and full circle cuts, especially when high waisted are great styles – just make sure that you’re balancing volume on bottom with fit on top. Dita Von Teese ^ does this beautifully.

The hourglass figure is what many stylists and women aim to emulate. While this is true, hourglass figures can quickly end up looking askew – top-heavy, shapeless, or bottom-heavy – if the clothing is not chosen correctly.

You wear ‘tops’ & blouses with jeans, skirts, shorts, pants, leggings, and more. Let’s look at the attributes of the blouses that will be sexiest or most slimming for an hourglass figure. All of these qualities are based on these ideas:

The top should not have elements over-emphasize your bust or shoulders. Remember, you want to dress so that your top and bottom are balanced – not top-heavy.

It should elongate your neckline as much as possible.

It should end above the widest part of your hips. You gain a few pounds when the top ends at your hips because you lose your waist. Tops and jackets that come to the top of your hip bone are the most flattering for the hourglass body type.From “On Nine Rules – ‘Tops’ for the Inverted Triangle”, the rules are similar except for Rule #8. Because hourglass shapes have curvy hips, tops that extend past the hips will not slim hourglass shapes down the way they will an inverted triangle. Shorter blouses are actually preferred to better define the waist. Petites, shorter tops will also lengthen your legs.

It shouldn’t be too loose, that you look shapeless. It should flow with your natural shape. Baggier is not better.

Make sure your waist is defined. Define your waist. Define your waist. I cannot stress this enough. Consider this: without waist definition, you look heavier than you actually are. And who wants that?

Tops & blouses for the petite & hourglass – look for the rules in what these petite and tall hourglass figures are wearing

Based on the rules, AVOID these features.

Do not – I repeat – Do NOT wear tops with gaps open between buttons or tops that cling to any lumps/bumps (most of us have them, if not all). Make this a pledge, and also pledge to wear fitted tops that allow you to move freely.

If sleeveless, no spaghetti straps if you’re busty – they will make your shoulders look wider.

Large prints

Baby doll styling

Sleeves that widen below the elbow will add inches to your midsection.

Steer away from turtlenecks as much as possible.

LIKE these features in blouses:

V-necklines show off your collarbone = sexy. (Layer a tee or camisole underneath if busty and cleavage is inappropriate)

U-necklines

Scoop necklines

Sweetheart necklines

Surplice construction

Wrap styling

Semi-fitted/Close-fitted styling (looks especially great with a fitted waist and full skirt)

Small prints

Solid color

Princess Seaming (will accentuate your waist)

If sleeveless or one-shoulder, choose straps that are proportionate to your size. Also, choose this sleeveless-ness based on personal preference, cultural reference, tonal quality of your upper arms and the climate.

Nipped in the waist

3/4 sleeves are less bulky than full length sleeves.

Full empire waists are definitely a bad idea – but empire waist tops that hug your chest and flare out over your torso will look good if you replicate a kind of A-line skirt under the bust seam.

All that being said, look for pieces in your wardrobe, and then add pieces into your wardrobe. Check for oxford shirts, basic tees, camisoles, sweaters (v-necks), bowed blouses. and then more. Most importantly, have some fun!

Petite is not size 0. Petite is not skinny, nor is petite equivalent to small-boned.

“Petite” means shorter than 5’4″ because petite designs are made for women of that stature. Wearing petite clothing (if you are petite) means no more baggy dress tops, jeans and pants that aren’t dragging past your heels without hemming – clothes fit much better when the length is taken into account. It is also important for people who are taller than the standard height (5’4″) to take into account that they may have a petite torso or petite legs.

The basic petite figure types are similar to the body shapes listed in On the Inverted Triangle (Part 1), only shorter. There are petite inverted triangles, triangles, rectangles, pears, apples, and more.

Typically, the difference between the hip and waist measurement is more than 8″.

Relatively curvy hips and thighs.

A naturally defined waist, however long or short it may be.

There’s a huge misconception that you must have a large bust to be an hourglass figure. There are skinny, average, and curvy hourglass figures — it’s all about the relative size of your bust and waist.

The Petite Hourglass Body Type

With a curvy petite hourglass figures, it becomes even more important to give definition to the waist – something Meha does fabulously. We’ll learn more from her in the upcoming posts.

Everyone’s list looks a little different. My muse, Meha makes dressing and wardrobe management look simple – except when it comes to shoes. All lists are forgotten when it comes to shoes. But I think that’s a girl thing – we all get that.

Knowing the staples in your closet has these effects:

It’s easier to dress in the morning.

If you’re missing a listed item or if a staple is in need of repair/replacement, you know it’s important to deal with it.

Simpler to mix & match to maximize your wardrobe.

Makes it easier to know which pieces to add, delete, and/or edit when shopping.

Her travel packing list is especially interesting.

By having and using a list, the stress of having to make last minute decisions goes away.

You can focus on preparing for other aspects of your travel.

“My travels have being varying: a day long affair, a 4 day relax vacation, a 12-15 days long haul, or even 3 to 4 months – it switches. In terms of naming staples, I choose to explain for a 4-6 days long vacation which we go for, most often. The first step is to find out the weather and terrain (beach, mountains, forest or desert). I leave all techniques and do’s and dont’s when it comes to shoes. Have to pack 5 shoes for a 6 day vacation!”

~Meha Bhargava

Meha Bhargava’s Lists

It’s important to see that recognizing these lists makes Meha look only more fabulous and stress-free, because she’s aware of herself, her needs, and dresses according to her rules rather than trying to fit into the lists of another person – no matter how stylish they may also be.

These lists simply life.Shopping, dressing, and packing, all, become uncomplicated.

Make your own lists. You will thank yourself (and possibly me) for it.

Nearly a year after we became friends, I was excited to first-hand witness Bhargavaa’s version of the ‘birthday week’. This celebration has always been an important part of life in our family, and I believe it’s a significant snapshot of a person’s best moments.

Bhargavaa’s rules? Only wear new clothing, party, eat delicious food, and be pampered (with a mani/pedi and massage at the very least). There’s a huge birthday party – this week, there are multiple birthday cakes, celebrated with several sets of people. Such fun!!

The muse is back! And this month, I feel inspired by my original muse, my first muse. Her unimitable style stands out in a sea of people, always. I consistently see this woman wearing something that’s unique, and distinctly styled.

Though I’m sure this wasn’t the first time I actually saw Bhargavaa, my first memory of her is in this pale yellow (or was it white?) dress. Somewhere around August 7, 2007, I presume? She was saying she absolutely could not exit the classroom because she knew she was too well dressed for her birthday week – that could potentially be problematic with seniors, in front of whom most freshmen would rather remain relatively invisible.

Though this memory is vague, I remember my first reaction was the furthest from affinity. Still – somehow, and I honestly think our friendship was simply meant to be, we were best friends by Diwali that year – and have remained so ever since.

Ms. Bhargava’s ideal day? A swim in the morning, followed by a shopping spree with a yummy lunch – then she’d like to relax with a nice head/shoulder massage, and a pedicure to seal it off. I laughed at this, mostly because minus the swim, our birthday weeks and other special days were invariably filled with these activities. Sometimes we added in a movie.

I’ve learned a lot from her poised personality over the years.

“If you believe in yourself, you’re one up on confidence already – even if you think you’ll have to fake it this time!”

~Meha Bhargava

I feel incredibly excited to present my August muse, the original muse, Meha Bhargava.

Art, management, events, food – every specialty has little nuances – the experts are keen observers of the minute and have achieved finesse in the details. Fashion, too, is in the details. Season to season, I used to be wonder – what changed? Up until a few years ago, it all looked the same to me. Every season there was glitter. Every season had fits and flares. Every season came with prints, black, the “new black”, color, neon, white, and neutrals. That is until I went to Milano, Italy for training in Image Consulting. I realized there, that the changes are all in the details. It’s in the bohemian fringe vs. the lace. In the leather details vs. the velvet. In the crochet vs. the embroidery. And so the list goes on.

I’m absolutely positive that there is very little in the world more detailed than nail art. They say that the world judges a women’s hygienic tendencies by the state of her toenails and fingers. I’m assuming that Arshia Arora is one of the elite, in this case – she has definitely put her “slight ambidextrousness” to good use. I personally think great hand-done nail art is a sign of great patience, stability, concentration, attention-to-detail, and talent.

On Nails Nails Nails, by Arshia Arora(Fantastic Nail Art - I wish I was even half this ambidextrous)

Every time I see one of her new creations, I either feel embarrassed at the cuticles I continue to chew down, or inspired to take better care of them. My nails are always neat, clean, and well treated – but the cuticles are dry. At the rare occasion that I get a manicure, I trepidatiously inch my hands forward, ready for THAT look from the esthetician before he/she cluck his or her tongue. “You have good, strong nails – but dry cuticles. You should take care of them! You must try – insert the esthetician’s favorite – oil.”

The question I always had for ALL nail artists is “what’s the point?” One of the reasons I’ve stopped getting a manicure is that I find myself more at ease when all I have to do is clean, file, cut, and buff. Maybe there’s a layer of clear shine. I can’t imagine the dread I’d feel every time I’d wash my hands or do the dishes – “What if this polish rubs or chips off?!” I couldn’t justify the time and/or money to myself that it takes to create these designs on nails.

That was until I saw this adorable nail art Arshia Arora did on one of her closest friends. Such adorable-ness. Could you be rude to anyone with nails like this? Such creativity.

My favorite nail art by Arshia Arora - if I had that cute face on my fingernails, I doubt I'd be able to stop smiling.

So, plan a lunch at home, girl’s night, “sleepover”, or anything with your best gal pal – and do what we did for years when we were little. Do each other’s nails. There’s a world of inspiration and tools out there. The list of types of nail polish finish has grown. There’s: Matte, Shine, Shimmer, Micro-shimmer, Glitter, Micro-glitter, Chrome, Creme, Frost, Lustre, Powder, Shattered, and more. There are over 20 nail color brands I can think of just off the top of my head.

First there was Coco Chanel and then there was the Le Smoking from YSL. Then came the la garconne dressing, and fast forward a few decades – the androgynous looks became popular. Now borrowing from the opposite gender’s wardrobe has become commonplace. The blazer, anorak, leather jacket, cargos, and boyfriend jeans – and now the boyfriend tee – pieces we have borrowed from the men – are all officially found in women stores now. There are tuxedo jackets for dresses – Glenn Close in Zac Posen at the Oscars. Menswear inspired womenswear is now seen on the street, on screen, and on the red carpet all the time now.

Borrowing from the Boys, Guys, and Men - As Seen on the Red Carpet

Take note, that menswear is never synonymous to baggy, no matter what it may seem like on the street around you. Take inspiration by mixing slouchy and feminine pieces with structured, tailored, and more angular pieces. It’s all in the balance. If you’re wearing a tailored jacket or trousers, make it your own by adding a sparkly, soft, or sensuous piece to the mix. Wear sky high heels and/or a statement necklace. Soft neutrals, jewel tones, or bright neons – they all look fabulous with black and nude alike – also consider the beautiful black & white combination with one other color in accessories.

Every book of style talks about the men’s shirt and how its cut looks so great when it finds its place on feminine curves. So many movies will showcase a man’s button down shirt on a woman. The key is finding an oversized shirt in a color (or white), print, or pattern that works for you – and defining your waist to ensure you don’t drown in it. Higher thread counts will look great thrown over your swimsuit at the beach.

Borrowing from the Boys, Guys, and Men - As Seen on the Street

The true borrowing lies in getting the details, and accessories right. I love men’s watches, especially those by Kenneth Cole and Michael Kors. There is something about the juxtaposition of a men’s large watch on a woman’s wrist that is very today. Sure, there is room for the delicate watch bracelets, but that isn’t for a contemporary look. Wear both, and see which you like on yourself more. This isn’t a costume. You should feel at home in what you’re wearing. Maybe try mixing it in with a bunch of bangles in similar tones or material. Work the watch into your look – make sure it doesn’t stand out like an awkward teenager.

Before investing in Michael Kors and Kenneth Cole, I borrowed my brother’s automatic Tommy Hilfiger watch for a while. Maybe borrowing from the boys may mean shopping in a closet without spending any money at the mall!

Waistcoats and vests. Black, colored, or denim – slouchy and/or tailored – these are always useful to throw on over a shirt or tshirt – especially in the summer when you don’t have to wear a jacket over the look.

Ties. Love love love ties. The ascot ties Miu Miu, featured in “Incorporating Androgynous Runway Fashion”, can be found in gorgeous bold prints to wear with printed or solid color shirts. Slim, bold colored ties look really great on women. I was working with a manager at Rugby in their operations, and she came wearing a white shirt with a slim navy tie and denim – the look was powerful. Themuseflash will someday make a post just about ties. But until then, just know that you can wear them pretty much anyway you want. And if you’re not into that, wear them as an interesting belt! (seriously)

Cufflinks are really interesting accessories. These are very personal pieces that I have to try on with what I intend to wear them with. For men and women both, cufflinks are usually best when they’re quirky, and very related to the wearer’s personality – they look best on simple french cuff shirt that suit or are tailored to your body.

Collection of Menswear Inspired Womenswear^ So much love for these cufflinks ^